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Circus trainer mauled by lion during show in Egypt

A circus trainer in Egypt was killed after being mauled by a 450-pound lion in front of a shocked crowd during a live show.

Shaheen Islam, a 35-year-old lion tamer with a circus in Alexandria, was attacked by one of three lions in an enclosure used for the performance. The sickening attack was caught on video.

As loud music pumped through speakers, the lion lunged at Islam and grabbed him by the neck, causing panicked children in the audience to scream in fear. Other employees rushed to Islam’s aid, poking the lion with sticks in an effort to get it to let go of the helpless man.

Islam, who had worked with lions for 10 years, according to his brother, was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries.

Circus spokesman Mohammed Mustafa said the lion, which had recently arrived from South Africa, was acting erratically because it was mating season. The killer lion, not surprisingly, has been removed from the show.